Insights In Your Ear

Speaking season is upon us. Since July, I have been to Bogota, Boston, Athens, London, Milan, Las Vegas, Washington, and New York. I have shared insights about changes in our economy that alter the trajectory of our careers, the shape of our companies, and the structure of our cities. I am finalizing my speaking schedule for winter and spring. Please get in touch with my team to enrich your next conference, offsite, or board meeting.

Between events, I am still hard at work on the next book. There is a lot I wish to share but am still not allowed to; please stay tuned (and for the dear early supporters of this project: I have not forgotten you, and I can't wait to deliver the book to you before anyone else!).

Alright, enough about me — kind of:

A couple of weeks ago, I chatted with Larry Deng on the MIT Center for Real Estate podcast. We explored how the nonlinear economy is reshaping real estate, cities, and work, with insights on the growing need for flexibility, adaptation, and the impact of technology on urban spaces. We also discussed my own approach to investment and risk management. The full podcast is available below.

A few key insights from the pod:

• The economy is becoming more unpredictable, like Hollywood – Success is less tied to predictable inputs, with small efforts leading to huge wins while large investments may fail.
• Real estate is shifting from passive assets to active businesses – Property owners must constantly respond to tenants’ needs, similar to how hotels or retailers operate.
• Success and failure are difficult to learn from in nonlinear systems – In a world where repetition doesn’t guarantee the same outcomes, continuous experimentation is critical.
• Cities need to focus on what only they can offer – Dense, walkable environments with access to public goods like parks and schools will be key to maintaining urban relevance.
• Technology’s biggest impact on real estate is indirect – The way technology reshapes demand, moves people around, and alters economic structures will matter more than tech improvements within real estate operations.
• The traditional office model is dying – Demand for office space is shrinking, becoming more distributed, and increasingly tied to short-term, flexible arrangements.
• Adaptability is the key to thriving in a nonlinear world – Solutions will come from loosening regulations and allowing for more experimentation in building and urban development.
• Companies will need flexible office arrangements – Long-term leases are becoming irrelevant as companies struggle to predict their future needs and locations.
• The economy is moving toward specialized talent matching – Success is now defined by finding the right person for a specific task, not necessarily the best overall talent.
• A mix of conservative and high-risk strategies works best – To thrive in uncertainty, combining conservative investments with high-risk, high-reward bets is essential for long-term success.

Thank you for reading and listening.

Best,